Junior Information Systems major, Nazi Paikidze, has been invited to compete in the invitation-only, U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, scheduled to take place at the Chess Club & Scholastic Center of St. Louis, March 31 – April 13, 2015.

Ms. Paikidze, 21 and an International Chess Master, was the 2007 World Under-14 Girl’s Chess Champion, the 2008 World Under-16 Girl’s Chess Champion, and has multiple European Youth Championships to her name.

With such a distinguished series of achievements in the sport at such a young age, I felt inclined to ask what has been most memorable for her thus far. Nazi answered, “One of my favorite moments from my chess career is winning the women’s section of the 2010 Moscow Open. It was the largest tournament I’ve won. I was not even in top 20 by rating and I won the tournament by beating Valentina Gunina in the last round (she is twice European woman champion now and rated 2500 plus, I think).”

Hailing from Moscow, Russia, when asked what she misses most about home, she said, “I miss the city. I loved living in a big city – Moscow. And of course I miss my family and friends.”

Nazi anticipates graduating with a degree in Information Systems in May 2016. When asked of her plans for post-graduation, Nazi replied, “I just recently decided to minor in entrepreneurship and that’s what I really want to pursue after school. I don’t think I’m cut out for nine to five job and I want to be my own boss.”

Spoken like a true chess player.

UMBC has a proud history of being represented at both the Men’s and Women’s U.S. Championships. Several former students, including Sabina Foisor, Timur Gareev, Sergey Erenburg, and former U.S. Champion, Alexander Onischuk have competed and continue to compete in this prestigious tournament.

We continue to be proud of their achievements both over the board and in the classroom.

If you would like to share well-wishes with Nazi before she competes, you can send her e-mail at paiki1@umbc.edu.

The UMBC community will celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s campus- and system-wide award recipients at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, in the University Center Ballroom. A light lunch will follow.

Release time will be granted for employees to take part in this event, and everyone is encouraged to attend. All campus offices will remain open, and services should continue to be offered. Supervisors and staff are asked to work together to coordinate staffing.

We will honor the following faculty and staff colleagues, each of whom was selected by a  committee of peers.

Michelle R. Scott
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, History
Affiliate Associate Professor, Gender and Women’s Studies, Africana Studies and Language, Literacy and Culture Doctoral Program
2015-18 Presidential Teaching Award

Katherine Seley-Radtke
Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2015-18 Presidential Research Award

Susan Martin
Associate Director, the Center for Women in Technology
2015-16 Presidential Distinguished Professional Staff Award

Susan L. Harrell
Executive Administrative Assistant, English Department
2015-16 Presidential Distinguished Non-Exempt Staff Award

Kate Brown
Professor, History
2015 University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship/Research/Creative Activity

Eileen O’Brien
Senior Lecturer, Psychology
2015 University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching

Michelle Scott
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, History
Affiliate Associate Professor, Gender and Women’s Studies, Africana Studies and Language, Literacy and Culture Doctoral Program
2015 University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring

Julie Rosenthal
Program Management Specialist, Asian Studies Program
2013-2014 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Staff Award for Exceptional
Contributions to the Mission of UMBC (Non-Exempt)

David Hoffman
Assistant Director, Student Life for Civic Agency
2013-2014 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Staff Award for Exceptional Contributions to the Mission of UMBC (Professional Staff)

Dottie Caplan
Executive Administrative Assistant
College of Natural & Mathematical Sciences
2014-2015 Karen L. Wensch Endowment Award for Non-Exempt Staff

Brian V. Souders
Associate Director, International Education Services
2014-2015 Jakubik Family Endowment Award

With several hundred scientists, educators and biotechnology business leaders in attendance, A Look Ahead XVIII will be a unique opportunity to connect with Maryland’s scientific research community

FEATURED SPEAKERS